Eco-mmunity to End Fossil Fuel
What is carbon offsetting?
What is Carbon offsetting and why should you consider doing it?
In August 2007, a good friend introduced me to a company that sells carbon offsets, which is a promise to offset your carbon footprint with some thing called REC’s.
After some research, I came to learn that “carbon Footprint” is defined as “a measure of the impact of human activity on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gasses produced (expressed in tons of CO2). Basically, any human activity that requires fossil-based energy (ie electricity, gas, etc) emits CO2, which is the number one cause of global warming.
One can calculate their personal or business carbon footprint by using a CO2 calculator from sources such as the Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) or World Resources Institute (WRI). This is not an exact science but rather an approximate figure.
Carbon Offsetting
Carbon offsets are created by renewable energy projects. These projects generate Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), which represent the green attributes of the energy being produced. Since the green energy replaces electricity that would otherwise be produced from fossil fuel sources, the carbon offsets are able to claim a reduction in CO2 emissions. In basic terms; carbon offsetting is a way for every person or business to help build more renewable energy farms. These farms come in the form of wind, solar, hydro, bio-mass (cow poop) and Geo-Thermal.
Obviously one should reduce waste, re-use and recycle as much as possible, before thinking about purchasing carbon offsets. But ultimately we all must live, work, and produce to exist and prosper. So until our society finds a way to stop using “dirty” energy, and replaces it with clean energy, we can help by purchasing offsets. You may be asking, “how can I be carbon neutral without purchasing carbon offsets?” Well, unless you live on a deserted island and have resorted back to caveman days, you will not be carbon neutral. Even cooking over a fire and heating your cave would emit CO2.
Basically, when you purchase offset you’re paying for others in the renewable industry to put that money towards building more renewable energy and/or CO2 reduction projects. Today you’ll find plenty of companies who are out their doing a great job of selling genuine offsets; but unfortunately, like any other industry, there are some that are simply cheating the system.
So how do you pick the right company to purchase offsets?
Simple; you look for the following key factors;
1) Review the projects they support.
2) Purchase from companies that offer third party verification of their offsets. This ensures that you are buying real, quantifiable, permanent and additional reductions of a specific quantity of GHGs in the atmosphere that would have been released in the absence of the emission reduction project. Two of these companies to look for are; “Green E” and the “Gold Standard”.
Where can I learn more about carbon offsetting and, if interested, make a purchase to help support more renewable energy farms?:
In August 2007, a good friend introduced me to a company that sells carbon offsets, which is a promise to offset your carbon footprint with some thing called REC’s.
After some research, I came to learn that “carbon Footprint” is defined as “a measure of the impact of human activity on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gasses produced (expressed in tons of CO2). Basically, any human activity that requires fossil-based energy (ie electricity, gas, etc) emits CO2, which is the number one cause of global warming.
One can calculate their personal or business carbon footprint by using a CO2 calculator from sources such as the Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) or World Resources Institute (WRI). This is not an exact science but rather an approximate figure.
Carbon Offsetting
Carbon offsets are created by renewable energy projects. These projects generate Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), which represent the green attributes of the energy being produced. Since the green energy replaces electricity that would otherwise be produced from fossil fuel sources, the carbon offsets are able to claim a reduction in CO2 emissions. In basic terms; carbon offsetting is a way for every person or business to help build more renewable energy farms. These farms come in the form of wind, solar, hydro, bio-mass (cow poop) and Geo-Thermal.
Obviously one should reduce waste, re-use and recycle as much as possible, before thinking about purchasing carbon offsets. But ultimately we all must live, work, and produce to exist and prosper. So until our society finds a way to stop using “dirty” energy, and replaces it with clean energy, we can help by purchasing offsets. You may be asking, “how can I be carbon neutral without purchasing carbon offsets?” Well, unless you live on a deserted island and have resorted back to caveman days, you will not be carbon neutral. Even cooking over a fire and heating your cave would emit CO2.
Basically, when you purchase offset you’re paying for others in the renewable industry to put that money towards building more renewable energy and/or CO2 reduction projects. Today you’ll find plenty of companies who are out their doing a great job of selling genuine offsets; but unfortunately, like any other industry, there are some that are simply cheating the system.
So how do you pick the right company to purchase offsets?
Simple; you look for the following key factors;
1) Review the projects they support.
2) Purchase from companies that offer third party verification of their offsets. This ensures that you are buying real, quantifiable, permanent and additional reductions of a specific quantity of GHGs in the atmosphere that would have been released in the absence of the emission reduction project. Two of these companies to look for are; “Green E” and the “Gold Standard”.
Where can I learn more about carbon offsetting and, if interested, make a purchase to help support more renewable energy farms?:
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